Just heard Goodell said that to the Washington Post. Don't have a link yet. What do you think?

_________________“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.” --- Bill Shankly

Thu Sep 15, 2016 7:35 am

PurpleMustReign

Starting Wide Receiver

Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2005 5:48 pmPosts: 18247Location: Crystal, MN

Re: NFL to eliminate kickoffs?

Stupid. There is no truth that there are more injuries on kickoffs than other plays. I hate Goodell and everything he has done, with the exception of making the last week of the season all divisional games.

In 2012, Time reported that Goodell had discussed a proposal to eliminate the kickoff with Greg Schiano, then the coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. One of Schiano’s former players at Rutgers, Eric LeGrand, suffered a severe spinal injury on a kickoff.

Under Schiano’s proposal, the team that scores a touchdown would retain possession of the football for a fourth-and-15 play at its 30-yard line. The team could opt to punt the ball to its opponent, or try for a first down in a bid to retain possession.

That would address what others within the sport have called one of the main obstacles to eliminating the kickoff. Any such rule change, they have said, might have to contain a mechanism allowing for the slim-chance possibility that a team trailing late in a game could get back possession of the football, as is now the case with the onside kick.

In 2012, Time reported that Goodell had discussed a proposal to eliminate the kickoff with Greg Schiano, then the coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. One of Schiano’s former players at Rutgers, Eric LeGrand, suffered a severe spinal injury on a kickoff.

Under Schiano’s proposal, the team that scores a touchdown would retain possession of the football for a fourth-and-15 play at its 30-yard line. The team could opt to punt the ball to its opponent, or try for a first down in a bid to retain possession.

That would address what others within the sport have called one of the main obstacles to eliminating the kickoff. Any such rule change, they have said, might have to contain a mechanism allowing for the slim-chance possibility that a team trailing late in a game could get back possession of the football, as is now the case with the onside kick.

Sooooo, they think punt returns are safer than kickoffs? GENIUS!

_________________"Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth." - Mike Tyson

In 2012, Time reported that Goodell had discussed a proposal to eliminate the kickoff with Greg Schiano, then the coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. One of Schiano’s former players at Rutgers, Eric LeGrand, suffered a severe spinal injury on a kickoff.

Under Schiano’s proposal, the team that scores a touchdown would retain possession of the football for a fourth-and-15 play at its 30-yard line. The team could opt to punt the ball to its opponent, or try for a first down in a bid to retain possession.

That would address what others within the sport have called one of the main obstacles to eliminating the kickoff. Any such rule change, they have said, might have to contain a mechanism allowing for the slim-chance possibility that a team trailing late in a game could get back possession of the football, as is now the case with the onside kick.

Maybe they are (I don't know what the injury stats say or if there are even stats on the subject publicly available) but if, as the WP article above says, "The sport’s leaders have regarded the kickoff as an unusually hazardous play because would-be tacklers get a running start to race down the field toward potentially violent collisions with blockers and the returner" then aren't punts still problematic? I know they're different from kickoffs because they start at the line of scrimmage but on punts, you literally still have players "race down the field toward potentially violent collisions with blockers and the returner".

Thu Sep 15, 2016 4:53 pm

S197

Fenrir

Joined: Fri Dec 22, 2006 1:28 pmPosts: 10984Location: Hawaii

Re: NFL to eliminate kickoffs?

I wonder if the clock would run on the 4th & 15 play. What if a team retook the lead after the TD with seconds left to play. They could elect the 4th down play and run out the clock without the other team having a chance to get the ball. I'd imagine with some creative running around plus throwing the ball into the stands, it would be easy to tick off 5-7 seconds. Possibly more.

Or, what if they pull a Randall Cunningham, set up like they're running a play and then have the QB punt the ball?

It just sounds dumb all the way around.

Thu Sep 15, 2016 5:29 pm

Cliff

Site Admin

Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2004 5:51 pmPosts: 8209Location: Kentucky

Re: NFL to eliminate kickoffs?

Mothman wrote:

Jordysghost wrote:

Well, I mean, they are.

Maybe they are (I don't know what the injury stats say or if there are even stats on the subject publicly available) but if, as the WP article above says, "The sport’s leaders have regarded the kickoff as an unusually hazardous play because would-be tacklers get a running start to race down the field toward potentially violent collisions with blockers and the returner" then aren't punts still problematic? I know they're different from kickoffs because they start at the line of scrimmage but on punts, you literally still have players "race down the field toward potentially violent collisions with blockers and the returner".

Actually it depends on what you mean by "safe" the more I think about it. Punt returns are less safe for the returner but kick returns are more dangerous for everyone involved. Everyone running full speed rather than blocking on the line. It's a numbers game rather than an individual thing.

_________________"Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth." - Mike Tyson

Fri Sep 16, 2016 7:01 am

Mothman

Defensive Tackle

Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2003 11:48 amPosts: 37356Location: Chicago, IL

Re: NFL to eliminate kickoffs?

Cliff wrote:

Mothman wrote:

Jordysghost wrote:

Well, I mean, they are.

Maybe they are (I don't know what the injury stats say or if there are even stats on the subject publicly available) but if, as the WP article above says, "The sport’s leaders have regarded the kickoff as an unusually hazardous play because would-be tacklers get a running start to race down the field toward potentially violent collisions with blockers and the returner" then aren't punts still problematic? I know they're different from kickoffs because they start at the line of scrimmage but on punts, you literally still have players "race down the field toward potentially violent collisions with blockers and the returner".

Actually it depends on what you mean by "safe" the more I think about it. Punt returns are less safe for the returner but kick returns are more dangerous for everyone involved. Everyone running full speed rather than blocking on the line. It's a numbers game rather than an individual thing.

It might be a numbers game but a punt return is still another play where multiple players race down the field toward potentially violent collisions with blockers (and the returner) so if that's the concern, I'm not sure how Schiano's proposed solution would really address the problem.

Fri Sep 16, 2016 11:43 am

jackal

Strong Safety

Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2006 2:05 amPosts: 11493Location: California

Re: NFL to eliminate kickoffs?

If you want to make the NFL more safe

get rid of all steroids and other things that makes guys too strong and heavy for their frames

increase the active roster to 60 players all active in games.. that way teams can rest at risk guys or possible concussion guys and still stay in games.

_________________no one expects the Spanish Inquisition!

Sat Sep 17, 2016 10:48 am

PurpleKoolaid

Hall of Famer

Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2011 9:52 pmPosts: 8219

Re: NFL to eliminate kickoffs?

PurpleMustReign wrote:

Stupid. There is no truth that there are more injuries on kickoffs than other plays. I hate Goodell and everything he has done, with the exception of making the last week of the season all divisional games.

Agreed. Especially when we have the best KO returner in the game. Its as much part of the game as the extra point is, and almost as safe, unless im missing something. They should be focusing more on helmets and concusions, KO return penalties are part of the game, thanksfully a small part. goodell sucks. Cant believe the rest of the NFL doesnt see how bad he is for football.